IA1111:03
Introduction to Media, Law and Ethics
Townsville, Cairns
Inadmissable Subject Combination: IA1110 IA2110
20 lectures, 20 hours practicals, 12 hours specialist conference. First semester. Flexible delivery by intensive block mode March/April.
Available to DipIndgStud, BIndgStud and other undergraduate students.
Staff: Ms C Togo, Ms M Mollison.
This subject focuses on news journalism and the law and ethics issues relating to the media. Students will learn to do news analysis, write news stories and develop correct interview techniques and news research skills. Topics covered will include defamation, contempt of court, appropriate handling of news sources and copyright (in both Indigenous and non-Indigenous contexts). The code of ethics of the Australian Broadcasting Authority and the media industry’s self regulation documents will be discussed. The Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance documents will be examined. Ethics which relate to reporting and editing in radio, print and television will be covered.
Learning Objectives:
- analyse the structures, concepts and language of mainstream journalism;
- strengthen students’ news sense and enable them to monitor a wide range of issues that affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people;
- acquire the skills needed to research and accurately report news stories;
- explore the cultural protocols relevant to reporting news about Indigenous issues and about any stories within an Indigenous community or context;
- develop a working knowledge of defamation and its defences;
- gain an understanding of how to get copyright clearances for Indigenous and non-Indigenous material and in what situations this is required;
- learn how to make a complaint to the relevant body about a program, article or advertisement;
- demonstrate a knowledge of self-regulation in the various sectors of the broadcasting industry;
- demonstrate a knowledge of media and journalism ethics in the mainstream and Indigenous media;
- understand the correct protocols and laws relating to court reporting.
Assessment by attendance (10%); two conference reports (20% each); media journal (30%); off-campus assignment (20%).